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Ok Pixel 8 Pro users that have the S24U Ultra. Honest thoughts between the two?
I haven't put it through a real camera comparison yet, so that part I have to reserve judgment on. As for everything else, it's almost as if the Pixel and Galaxy had a baby and named it S24U. If I could get the Pixel's call screening on it, it would be perfect.
- The article summaries are better on the S24U. The default summaries tend to be better and sometimes will have more detail, but there's also an option for detailed summaries which the Pixel doesn't have.
- The speakers are much better on the S24U than on the P8P.
- I like the anti-glare screen on the S24U better than the screen on the P8P.
- Battery life is better than the P8P.
- They feel equally snappy.
- Voice typing on the Pixel is better as per usual, even if you're using the Google keyboard on the S24U.
- Call Assist (Sammy's call screening) is not as good as the Pixel's call screening, because you have to do it manually whereas the Pixel does it automatically.
 
Ok Pixel 8 Pro users that have the S24U Ultra. Honest thoughts between the two?
I have had Pixel 8 Pro from launch and s23 ultra from launch. Just got the s24 plus. I have the Ultra coming in as well. I will update the post when it arrives. One of the two will be returned. I couldn’t make a decision and I didn't want to lose out on the pre order deals.

I will start out with a comparison of the s24 plus to the P8P and then in a few days I will add another post on the Ultra and combine them at some point.

Since I got the P8P I was instantly in love(if such a thing is possible). I have used it non stop and it has been a joy in every way. I have zero complaints in day to day with the Pixel 8 Pro.

But damn if Samsung doesn't just blow up hardware. Sure the s24 plus ain't winning any camera awards. But it takes decent photos and videos. And in every other way but the cameras this phone is stellar.

I did mention the cameras aren't bad? Samsung is doing something very different with how these sensors are taking shots. I think they are borrowing some of Googles old sensor magic. I compared shots in 3 zoom settings from 1 to 10x zoom and I can't tell a difference between the two phones. Obviously at higher zoom the Pixel is going to win but having a decent shot at 10x zoom was pretty impressive.

The screen. Both phones have amazing screens. They are pretty much matched except for a couple things that give Samsung the edge. PWM 495 on s24+, 280 on the P8P. True tone for Android now exists on Samsung using adaptive color tone. So if you like true tone now you can have it on your Android. It is why everyone is complaining about washed out screens. Turn it off people. 😆 lol.

Haptics are really good on both maybe a slight edge to P8P but they are pretty equal here too.

Speakers again pretty equally matched but the s24 plus has Dolby atmos and just better overall sound but it is very close.

Battery life on both is excellent but even in initial testing the s24 plus is a battery king so far. Two days easy with heavy use and quad HD and adaptive battery off. So if you tweak the settings I bet you could get 3 days. But I need more time to be sure.

Phone quality and reception seems equal.

I have to say it. Yes the P8P is fast. There is no delay and the Tensor g3 is fast. BUT the 8 Gen 3 is next level fast compared to the Tensor and GPU on 8 Gen 3 is a beast. So although P8P is fast and smooth I can tell a difference in speed in certain tasks on the s24 plus. I don't think that it is a deal breaker either way but if I was planning on keeping the phone for 7 years the 8 Gen 3 might fair better but Googles tight integration with hardware and software could make the difference mute. So I wouldn't buy based on processor because both are excellent this year. Just be aware there is a significant difference.

Build quality and design. I love the bay blue and the unique camera Bay on the Pixel. But I also really love the cobalt purple on the s24 plus. It is just about the perfect shade of purple for a guy. The aluminum armor frame is beautiful and durable and light. The fit and finish looks a lot like iPhone to me. If you set the phone down camera side down you could not tell it apart from a iPhone 14 PM if looking from a slight distance. I don't care to copy iPhone but I have to admit it is a good looking phone. The size is just about perfect for a large phone. It has the same screen size as the Pixel but in a very slightly smaller frame. The Pixel is more rounded and feels comfortable too. It is just the s24 plus feels almost bezel less. I have never experienced anything else like it. It is the one thing that might win over the Ultra. It might just come down to comfort and size over cameras and s pen? We will see. It is something you gave to hold in your hand. This is why I think for a regular bar phone the s24 plus might just be the phone of 2024.

OneUI 6.1. I like it. It does copy a lot of design elements from Apple but it is well done. However, there are some design elements in the UI that are old and stale and Pixel UI looks so much cleaner. The settings menu for example has all of these sections with bars and different colored icons, whereas Pixel just has a menu with monochrome icons. Just a much simpler and cleaner layout. It would be an easy update as Samsung has been using the same menu UI for years.

So what I am getting at is while OneUI 6.1 is new and good, it still lacks some of the polish that makes owning a Pixel so much fun. So while Pixel may not have as good hardware it's software more than makes up for most of it.

If I could go back in time and buy the s24 plus instead of the P8P I might. If I had to choose only one I would have to really think about it. The s24 plus is a really good comparison phone to the Pixel 8 Pro. They are very closely matched but the hardware in the s24 plus is better overall with the exception of cameras. If a really good camera is important to you the Pixel 8 Pro is simply the best.

One side note. Generative AI on device works a lot faster on the s24 plus and seems to be a little more detailed than the Pixel 8Pro for whoever is interested.

Ask any specific questions you have and I will be happy to address them as best I can.
 
I'm missing some of the smarts of the Pixel 8 Pro and I'm sure I'll miss the feature drops, but the hardware of the S24 Ultra is just leagues ahead of the Pixel 8 Pro. Also, the current iteration of OneUI is really good.
So funny you say that. I am sort of trying to figure out how much Pixel AI is in the s24 plus. There are some really cool stuff in the Pixel and the UI is more consistent and looks better overall to me. BUT OneUI 6.1 is pretty good and the s24 plus and Ultra hardware is pretty sweet this year so it's a tough choice.

Right now Samsung is winning. Lol But I am not going to let go of my Pixel.
 
I have had Pixel 8 Pro from launch and s23 ultra from launch. Just got the s24 plus. I have the Ultra coming in as well. I will update the post when it arrives. One of the two will be returned. I couldn’t make a decision and I didn't want to lose out on the pre order deals.

I will start out with a comparison of the s24 plus to the P8P and then in a few days I will add another post on the Ultra and combine them at some point.

Since I got the P8P I was instantly in love(if such a thing is possible). I have used it non stop and it has been a joy in every way. I have zero complaints in day to day with the Pixel 8 Pro.

But damn if Samsung doesn't just blow up hardware. Sure the s24 plus ain't winning any camera awards. But it takes decent photos and videos. And in every other way but the cameras this phone is stellar.

I did mention the cameras aren't bad? Samsung is doing something very different with how these sensors are taking shots. I think they are borrowing some of Googles old sensor magic. I compared shots in 3 zoom settings from 1 to 10x zoom and I can't tell a difference between the two phones. Obviously at higher zoom the Pixel is going to win but having a decent shot at 10x zoom was pretty impressive.

The screen. Both phones have amazing screens. They are pretty much matched except for a couple things that give Samsung the edge. PWM 495 on s24+, 280 on the P8P. True tone for Android now exists on Samsung using adaptive color tone. So if you like true tone now you can have it on your Android. It is why everyone is complaining about washed out screens. Turn it off people. 😆 lol.

Haptics are really good on both maybe a slight edge to P8P but they are pretty equal here too.

Speakers again pretty equally matched but the s24 plus has Dolby atmos and just better overall sound but it is very close.

Battery life on both is excellent but even in initial testing the s24 plus is a battery king so far. Two days easy with heavy use and quad HD and adaptive battery off. So if you tweak the settings I bet you could get 3 days. But I need more time to be sure.

Phone quality and reception seems equal.

I have to say it. Yes the P8P is fast. There is no delay and the Tensor g3 is fast. BUT the 8 Gen 3 is next level fast compared to the Tensor and GPU on 8 Gen 3 is a beast. So although P8P is fast and smooth I can tell a difference in speed in certain tasks on the s24 plus. I don't think that it is a deal breaker either way but if I was planning on keeping the phone for 7 years the 8 Gen 3 might fair better but Googles tight integration with hardware and software could make the difference mute. So I wouldn't buy based on processor because both are excellent this year. Just be aware there is a significant difference.

Build quality and design. I love the bay blue and the unique camera Bay on the Pixel. But I also really love the cobalt purple on the s24 plus. It is just about the perfect shade of purple for a guy. The aluminum armor frame is beautiful and durable and light. The fit and finish looks a lot like iPhone to me. If you set the phone down camera side down you could not tell it apart from a iPhone 14 PM if looking from a slight distance. I don't care to copy iPhone but I have to admit it is a good looking phone. The size is just about perfect for a large phone. It has the same screen size as the Pixel but in a very slightly smaller frame. The Pixel is more rounded and feels comfortable too. It is just the s24 plus feels almost bezel less. I have never experienced anything else like it. It is the one thing that might win over the Ultra. It might just come down to comfort and size over cameras and s pen? We will see. It is something you gave to hold in your hand. This is why I think for a regular bar phone the s24 plus might just be the phone of 2024.

OneUI 6.1. I like it. It does copy a lot of design elements from Apple but it is well done. However, there are some design elements in the UI that are old and stale and Pixel UI looks so much cleaner. The settings menu for example has all of these sections with bars and different colored icons, whereas Pixel just has a menu with monochrome icons. Just a much simpler and cleaner layout. It would be an easy update as Samsung has been using the same menu UI for years.

So what I am getting at is while OneUI 6.1 is new and good, it still lacks some of the polish that makes owning a Pixel so much fun. So while Pixel may not have as good hardware it's software more than makes up for most of it.

If I could go back in time and buy the s24 plus instead of the P8P I might. If I had to choose only one I would have to really think about it. The s24 plus is a really good comparison phone to the Pixel 8 Pro. They are very closely matched but the hardware in the s24 plus is better overall with the exception of cameras. If a really good camera is important to you the Pixel 8 Pro is simply the best.

One side note. Generative AI on device works a lot faster on the s24 plus and seems to be a little more detailed than the Pixel 8Pro for whoever is interested.

Ask any specific questions you have and I will be happy to address them as best I can.

The thing I like about Pixel, Google releases feature updates regularly (every month I think). The latest is the temperature sensor (altho it's probably a gimmick).

In terms of software, do you think One UI or Pixel has the best software and the most customisable?
 
The thing I like about Pixel, Google releases feature updates regularly (every month I think). The latest is the temperature sensor (altho it's probably a gimmick).

In terms of software, do you think One UI or Pixel has the best software and the most customisable?
I prefer Pixel UI in general over OneUI. It is a more consistent and polished UI. Settings are easy to find. OneUI is a maze of Settings and sub settings and in order to get things the way you like it is going to take some time. This is the way for Samsung and always has been. A sort of kitchen sink approach to Android. Through enough settings and features and some will stick. Over promise and under deliver is a consistent theme.

That being said, OneUI is generally extremely stable and reliable. Generally, if you want to tweak something, you can do it in OneUI. But Pixel has gained a lot of those settings over the years so the difference isn't as stark as it used to be.

If Samsung can get their AI on the same level as Google like with call screening for example, or camera processing, text to speech, etc then I would say OneUI and Pixel UI are equally good but different. Right now I would say they are close but I think personally that Pixel UI is better because of the better implementation of AI throughout PixelUI.

Since Samsung seems all in on AI and are working with Google then I expect the AI features to reach parity with Pixel soon.

So I don't see a best, but OneUI is certainly more customizable than PixelUI and has more features out of the box for some users while that OOB experience is what puts them off of Samsung with so many apps etc. But only OneUI has dex. Say what you will but of you need it and don't have access to a PC it can be a life saver.

In my opinion both PixelUI and One UI are better than iOS with certain huge exceptions which honestly hold Android back from being equal or better than iOS overall. Apps and consistent polished UI are a problem in Android no matter brand or cost. Only Samsung offers a lot of Apple integration features but they are not as well done. So as good as Android is as an OS and as good as the hardware is there will probably always be these issues. If you can deal with them then I just feel like Android is more fun overall and OEM's push the boundaries a lot more than Apple. iOS has become instable for the first time in my use and I don't like some changes and some settings or navigation. BUT iOS is the most polished and uniform OS. It can be a bit confusing where some settings are but most things are set by default and work well with little or no tinkering. Getting a new iPhone set up is a breeze compared to the mess on Android. There are just a bunch of rock solid and extremely useful features on iOS that connect people and their stuff seamlessly and automatically. No other OS can match it.

This is why I say there is no best OS. Each one has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses and at the end of the day it simply boils down to what you like best. What you like best isn't always logical either. So my best advice is to use what you enjoy the most and alternate between OS. Then you get a lit less bored with your devices as you alternate. It is good for the mind too.
 
All in all, the S24 series is a big win for Samsung. As usual, a lot bickering out the usual insecure iPhone users coming in to say how they pre-ordered and canceled their order just to discourage anyone from leaving the cult. Honestly, how are these arguments still a thing anymore. Lol
As for the AI features, the small print says available until the end of 2025. So that's 2 years of free AI features. Who knows what happens at that point, it's a few years away. I myself have moved to a 2 year phone cycle, so it doesn't effect me or anyone who upgrades every year or two. Bring on the Flip6/Fold6.
 
I wasn't expecting the S24U to feel this much smoother than the P8P when scrolling in apps.
My biggest issue with the Pixel is stuttering in Chrome, YouTube, the Google Feed and some other popular apps.

The S24 is incredibly smooth. Almost as good as the iPhone 15 PM.

The battery capacity is the same in both phones but the S24U lasts longer. I got almost ten hours screen time yesterday. I've never gotten over six on the Pixel.

I guess this is thanks to the Snapdragon chip.

I still prefer the UI and camera on the Pixel. The vibration motor also feels slightly better.
 
I prefer Pixel UI in general over OneUI. It is a more consistent and polished UI. Settings are easy to find. OneUI is a maze of Settings and sub settings and in order to get things the way you like it is going to take some time. This is the way for Samsung and always has been. A sort of kitchen sink approach to Android. Through enough settings and features and some will stick. Over promise and under deliver is a consistent theme.

That being said, OneUI is generally extremely stable and reliable. Generally, if you want to tweak something, you can do it in OneUI. But Pixel has gained a lot of those settings over the years so the difference isn't as stark as it used to be.

If Samsung can get their AI on the same level as Google like with call screening for example, or camera processing, text to speech, etc then I would say OneUI and Pixel UI are equally good but different. Right now I would say they are close but I think personally that Pixel UI is better because of the better implementation of AI throughout PixelUI.

Since Samsung seems all in on AI and are working with Google then I expect the AI features to reach parity with Pixel soon.

So I don't see a best, but OneUI is certainly more customizable than PixelUI and has more features out of the box for some users while that OOB experience is what puts them off of Samsung with so many apps etc. But only OneUI has dex. Say what you will but of you need it and don't have access to a PC it can be a life saver.

In my opinion both PixelUI and One UI are better than iOS with certain huge exceptions which honestly hold Android back from being equal or better than iOS overall. Apps and consistent polished UI are a problem in Android no matter brand or cost. Only Samsung offers a lot of Apple integration features but they are not as well done. So as good as Android is as an OS and as good as the hardware is there will probably always be these issues. If you can deal with them then I just feel like Android is more fun overall and OEM's push the boundaries a lot more than Apple. iOS has become instable for the first time in my use and I don't like some changes and some settings or navigation. BUT iOS is the most polished and uniform OS. It can be a bit confusing where some settings are but most things are set by default and work well with little or no tinkering. Getting a new iPhone set up is a breeze compared to the mess on Android. There are just a bunch of rock solid and extremely useful features on iOS that connect people and their stuff seamlessly and automatically. No other OS can match it.

This is why I say there is no best OS. Each one has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses and at the end of the day it simply boils down to what you like best. What you like best isn't always logical either. So my best advice is to use what you enjoy the most and alternate between OS. Then you get a lit less bored with your devices as you alternate. It is good for the mind too.

I will say that app quality, in terms of being polished, apps are just better on my iPhone. They even look better in terms of layout sometimes, Twitter for example.
Also I find the Apple Watch miles ahead of Samsung's smartwatch. I'm using the Watch 6 that I got for free as part of the pre-order deal, at the moment and I don't find it even half as good as my Apple Watch. Apple is much better at fitness tracking and so far the battery life on this watch 6 is terrible.

I do agree tho that OneUi is the kitchen sink approach, which in a way is good and in another it's overwhelming. I don't think I could not have my iPhone in my life and go all in on this S24 Ultra and Watch 6. That's not to say it hasn't improved, battery life on the S24 Ultra is great so far, it's such a customisable phone as well. There are just things from Apple that I would miss too much, my AirPods Pro and my Apple Watch. If I decide to keep my S24 Ultra, it will be a second phone, mainly for the camera, while it does need an update to the software side I still love the zoom on it and im sure for holidays it will be a great phone to take along.
 
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It didn't. I was basically saying that the numbers in comparison don't look good. How is that implying anything. It is just reading the numbers.

Just for reference I love the Pixel 8 Pro and the Tensor G3 is a huge improvement over the G2. I also had a Pixel 7 Pro.

But at the end of the day at least in my personal opinion I can feel a difference between the Tensor G3 and the 8 Gen 3. The 8 Gen 3 is faster. Does that make the Tensor G3 bad? No. It just means that QC has made a lot of real improvements. The Tensor G4 will be out this year and if it is anything like the Exynos 2400 it should be a decent chip.

Yeah I think that’s more misreading your post than anything so apologies on my OP.
 
no ire here..... No thin skin.....It is just funny how people come out of the woodwork to cast shade on a phone they have no intention of getting..... That is not their favorite or current brand.....

The plus models of the Galaxy lineup have been the ones I’ve considered most seriously to replace my OnePlus 6, especially as they are closest in size to it. But to financially justify it these days it will have to be when my OnePlus 6 actually dies I replace it.
 
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I have had Pixel 8 Pro from launch and s23 ultra from launch. Just got the s24 plus. I have the Ultra coming in as well. I will update the post when it arrives. One of the two will be returned. I couldn’t make a decision and I didn't want to lose out on the pre order deals.

I will start out with a comparison of the s24 plus to the P8P and then in a few days I will add another post on the Ultra and combine them at some point.

Since I got the P8P I was instantly in love(if such a thing is possible). I have used it non stop and it has been a joy in every way. I have zero complaints in day to day with the Pixel 8 Pro.

But damn if Samsung doesn't just blow up hardware. Sure the s24 plus ain't winning any camera awards. But it takes decent photos and videos. And in every other way but the cameras this phone is stellar.

I did mention the cameras aren't bad? Samsung is doing something very different with how these sensors are taking shots. I think they are borrowing some of Googles old sensor magic. I compared shots in 3 zoom settings from 1 to 10x zoom and I can't tell a difference between the two phones. Obviously at higher zoom the Pixel is going to win but having a decent shot at 10x zoom was pretty impressive.

The screen. Both phones have amazing screens. They are pretty much matched except for a couple things that give Samsung the edge. PWM 495 on s24+, 280 on the P8P. True tone for Android now exists on Samsung using adaptive color tone. So if you like true tone now you can have it on your Android. It is why everyone is complaining about washed out screens. Turn it off people. lol.

Haptics are really good on both maybe a slight edge to P8P but they are pretty equal here too.

Speakers again pretty equally matched but the s24 plus has Dolby atmos and just better overall sound but it is very close.

Battery life on both is excellent but even in initial testing the s24 plus is a battery king so far. Two days easy with heavy use and quad HD and adaptive battery off. So if you tweak the settings I bet you could get 3 days. But I need more time to be sure.

Phone quality and reception seems equal.

I have to say it. Yes the P8P is fast. There is no delay and the Tensor g3 is fast. BUT the 8 Gen 3 is next level fast compared to the Tensor and GPU on 8 Gen 3 is a beast. So although P8P is fast and smooth I can tell a difference in speed in certain tasks on the s24 plus. I don't think that it is a deal breaker either way but if I was planning on keeping the phone for 7 years the 8 Gen 3 might fair better but Googles tight integration with hardware and software could make the difference mute. So I wouldn't buy based on processor because both are excellent this year. Just be aware there is a significant difference.

Build quality and design. I love the bay blue and the unique camera Bay on the Pixel. But I also really love the cobalt purple on the s24 plus. It is just about the perfect shade of purple for a guy. The aluminum armor frame is beautiful and durable and light. The fit and finish looks a lot like iPhone to me. If you set the phone down camera side down you could not tell it apart from a iPhone 14 PM if looking from a slight distance. I don't care to copy iPhone but I have to admit it is a good looking phone. The size is just about perfect for a large phone. It has the same screen size as the Pixel but in a very slightly smaller frame. The Pixel is more rounded and feels comfortable too. It is just the s24 plus feels almost bezel less. I have never experienced anything else like it. It is the one thing that might win over the Ultra. It might just come down to comfort and size over cameras and s pen? We will see. It is something you gave to hold in your hand. This is why I think for a regular bar phone the s24 plus might just be the phone of 2024.

OneUI 6.1. I like it. It does copy a lot of design elements from Apple but it is well done. However, there are some design elements in the UI that are old and stale and Pixel UI looks so much cleaner. The settings menu for example has all of these sections with bars and different colored icons, whereas Pixel just has a menu with monochrome icons. Just a much simpler and cleaner layout. It would be an easy update as Samsung has been using the same menu UI for years.

So what I am getting at is while OneUI 6.1 is new and good, it still lacks some of the polish that makes owning a Pixel so much fun. So while Pixel may not have as good hardware it's software more than makes up for most of it.

If I could go back in time and buy the s24 plus instead of the P8P I might. If I had to choose only one I would have to really think about it. The s24 plus is a really good comparison phone to the Pixel 8 Pro. They are very closely matched but the hardware in the s24 plus is better overall with the exception of cameras. If a really good camera is important to you the Pixel 8 Pro is simply the best.

One side note. Generative AI on device works a lot faster on the s24 plus and seems to be a little more detailed than the Pixel 8Pro for whoever is interested.

Ask any specific questions you have and I will be happy to address them as best I can.

Thanks for that just a shame in the UK we don’t get the SD in the Plus models.
 
I would say to anyone thinking about buying the S24 Ultra, do it as you can always return it. In the UK we have 14 day returns policy. I'm not sure about other places in the world, you can always check on Samsung's website.

I have tried and returned a few Samsung phones over the past couple of years (the only one I ended up keeping was the S22 Ultra), in my experience Samsung are pretty good at accepting returns.

The only thing I'm not sure of is with the screen protectors, I had a pack of 2 for free as a pre-order bonus, one of them is on my S24 Ultra and the other unopened, but if I were to return the phone I would have to include all the free gifts (Watch 6, vegan leather case and the screen protectors).
 
Also I find the Apple Watch miles ahead of Samsung's smartwatch. I'm using the Watch 6 that I got for free as part of the pre-order deal, at the moment and I don't find it even half as good as my Apple Watch. Apple is much better at fitness tracking and so far the battery life on this watch 6 is terrible.
I don't find the Apple Watch better in any way. My Galaxy Watch 6 47mm is excellent for tracking my fitness. Also, it's great for emails and messages.
 
I would say to anyone thinking about buying the S24 Ultra, do it as you can always return it.
Lol Dave we told you this roughly 900 times about the Pixel when you were umming and ahhing every day about it whether to buy it or not in October 🤣.
I'm glad the S24 U looks to be a decent fit for you though - so clearly you holding out was the right thing 🙂.
 
Lol Dave we told you this roughly 900 times about the Pixel when you were umming and ahhing every day about it whether to buy it or not in October 🤣.
I'm glad the S24 U looks to be a decent fit for you though - so clearly you holding out was the right thing 🙂.

😂 Yea but it was a separate company ie Google, I'm not sure what they were like with returns. At least with Samsung once you've opened the device and used it, you can return it. I get your point tho.
 
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I don't find the Apple Watch better in any way. My Galaxy Watch 6 47mm is excellent for tracking my fitness. Also, it's great for emails and messages.

My Apple Watch Ultra is more accurate when it comes to tracking my runs, also I'm not a fan of the round watch design. I guess it's subjective tho.
 
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😂 Yea but it was a separate company ie Google, I'm not sure what they were like with returns. At least with Samsung once you've opened the device and used it, you can return it. I get your point tho.
Think they're all pretty good with that these days in the UK. Even Currys let's you do it now too! :eek:
Whereas for America I think some companies or stores charge a restock fee or something like that.
 
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